As a student at UW-Madison, a world-class research institution, I have the ability to receive a quality degree with hard work and support. However, that support is threatened by polarized views and a misunderstanding that investing in public education is a partisan issue, rather than a value. I understand the value of my education because I know that in order to create jobs, improve the Wisconsin economy and maintain a quality education, my state must invest in education.
The UW System operates with the Wisconsin Idea in mind. This is a guiding principle that promotes a sustainable path to building careers. I attend UW-Madison with the perspective that afterward I will contribute to my community through public service. I see the Wisconsin Idea as a philosophy calling for the unity between educational opportunities and state investment. In order to create access and affordability, the state must be willing to actively participate in supporting public education.
I support making education affordable to create a pathway to new, innovative careers for Wisconsinites. However, this is not accomplished by sustaining a tuition freeze without allocating additional funds to the university. Affordability is not just accomplished through a tuition freeze; the state must be willing to fund higher education. Similar to California state schools, UW-Madison starts to see more out-of-state students admitted, meaning less spots for in-state students, in order to make up for the loss of revenue. Essentially, in-state students are being afforded a less-accessible state university because of the legislature’s decision to disinvest. Similarly, UW campuses are tied with the expectation that no funding will be rewarded to make up for the $250 million lost in the last biennial, and so they take to student segregated fees to cover costs.
So, the actions of the state and the governor led to increased segregated fees to make up for tuition loss. As a result, there is not enough revenue to attract and keep quality professors, and manage class sizes so students can graduate in four years. There is evidence to show the declining support of the state when student fees increase by $72 at UW-Madison including a $59 increase to improve health services on campus. Additionally, UW-La Crosse, with the approval of the Board of Regents, is seeing more than a $200 increase in student fees. The campus will see a steady increase in student fees over several years to support campus operations. A tuition freeze does something, but it does not stop other costs from rising.
In addition, the struggle to sustain a wide array of classes to offer students decreases, while more classes become harder to get into, extending the road to graduation. In turn this creates a cycle of more students taking out loans to finish their degree, accumulating more debt. Along the same lines, class sizes matter when considering professors and graduate students capacity to support high demanding courses.
Freezing tuition without funding the consecutive cuts over five years does not create more access but lessens it. At this rate, freezing tuition does not create affordability but squeezes out lower socioeconomic students by universities increasing housing prices, food prices and textbook materials. When there are less funds being afforded to public education, costs under the university’s control rise. Eventually the freeze will end, and if the UW System endures more cuts or lacks funding to make up for lost revenue, I’m afraid in-state tuition could rise exponentially, hurting future incoming freshman. However, a balance is possible through the state’s commitment to fund education, so down the road access and affordability are reachable for future students.
Education should be an attainable goal for all qualified students regardless of income. Equality is more achievable when education is seen from this perspective. However, Wisconsin’s current course forces in-state students to compete with the revenue of international, out-of-state and more affluent students for a spot in the classroom.
Quality education is a shared principle of making the Wisconsin Idea flourish. The lack of funding from the state begins to fall on the backs of hard-working students. A more affordable and equitable path to education creates diversity. Part of the value of my education is that I am surrounded by people from many different walks of life.
For Wisconsin, I strive to see that education is viewed as a valuable engine for the future health of the state. The system and legislature are active partners in opening doors for each qualified student to attend college. A Wisconsin that works to extend opportunities by first investing in them accomplishes and sustains the purpose of our foundational principle, the Wisconsin Idea.
Carmen is a junior studying political science and legal studies. How do you feel about the tuition freeze? What effect do you think it will have on UW-Madison? Let us know at opinion@dailycardinal.com.
